My amazing adventure at the Maasai Dental Clinic
Wow, where do I even begin? Spending two weeks at the Maasai Dental Clinic in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, has been one of the most surreal and eye-opening experiences of my life!
The adventure kicked off with a five-hour car ride from Nairobi, where we took in the breathtaking views of the Great Rift Valley. As we got closer to the clinic, which is right next to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, I was greeted by all kinds of wildlife—zebras, giraffes, elephants, and monkeys! It was pretty clear that this was going to be a dental experience like no other.
The local villages are home to the Maasai people, famous for their colourful clothing, stunning jewellery, and impressive dancing skills. Even in our modern world, they’ve managed to keep their traditional lifestyle alive. They live in small mud huts, have no electricity, and trek long distances to collect water. Kids as young as four take on big responsibilities, like herding livestock—a stark contrast to life back home in the UK.
The dental clinic was surprisingly well-equipped, thanks to the World Health Dental Organization. As soon as we opened the doors at 8:30am, we were met with a line of Maasai waiting for treatment. Many had walked for miles, often in pain for months, but you’d never guess it from their smiles and cheerful “jambo!” (hello in Swahili) when they saw me.
I quickly noticed two major dental issues: heavily decayed wisdom teeth and molars, and fluorosis from the high fluoride levels in their drinking water. Unfortunately, this meant we were doing a lot of extractions. On Day 1 alone, we treated 26 patients and performed over 30 extractions! I could already see how the rest of my time there would shape up.
After our workday, we got to go on a sunset safari in the Maasai Mara, which was an incredible treat! Spotting the Big Five—lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalos—was such a thrill. It’s not every day you finish a long day at work and then head out for a safari right outside your door!
By the time my two weeks wrapped up, I’d treated over 200 patients and done more than 150 extractions. One of the highlights? Treating two centenarian Maasai—one was 110 years old and the other 102! Their diet mainly consists of milk, meat, and goat blood (which they believe is medicinal), so despite the dental issues, their teeth and bones were surprisingly strong. After two weeks of extractions, my arm felt like it might fall off!
A local even showed me how to use a special tree branch to clean my teeth instead of a toothbrush. It’s got natural antiseptic properties and a bit of a bitter taste, and they swear by it! I gave it a go, but I think I’ll stick to my toothpaste and toothbrush for now! It seems like the decay might be due to missing spots when cleaning the back teeth with the branch—something we tried to educate them about during our stay.
One of the most unforgettable moments was attending a Maasai church ceremony, complete with their vibrant tribal dancing! The Maasai welcomed us with open arms, pulling us onto the dance floor. The energy was infectious, and it was impossible not to smile. Their sense of community and joy was so evident, and I felt lucky to be a part of it.
We also visited a Manyatta hut, which is a traditional Maasai home made from mud and cow dung. These huts are simple, with no electricity, and the whole family sleeps and eats in the same space. Sometimes, even baby animals stay in there with them! It really hit home how much we take for granted—like clean running water and warm houses with electricity. One Maasai even asked if we lived like this in the UK; they had never seen a house before!
Looking back on my time at the clinic, I feel so grateful for so many things:
- Access to quality healthcare
- A warm home with electricity, food, and clean water at my fingertips
- The chance to use my skills to help those in greater need
I want to send a massive thank you to everyone who donated to my fundraising page for the clinic. The work that the World Health Dental Organization does is truly amazing. I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to provide dental care for the Maasai people and to see life through their eyes.
This has been a truly unforgettable experience!
Minal
